dog days of summer are the worst

[ifnotloyal]

WHO: Ace and some random happenstances (aka Dean, Connie, and Aracely).
WHERE: Various spots in Heropa.
WHEN: Over the week?
WHAT: People keep running into this weird talking dog...
WARNINGS: n/a

Comments

[huitzilin]

[ she's definitely not a threat—not now, at least. ]

Get 'em get 'em!

[ she continues, jogging after him at a fumble. but despite her inelegance, she's rather quick. she halts next to him, bouncing in place like it gets her any higher. ]

Oh no! But he's scared! We can get him!

[ with a hop she rolls on the heels of her feet and then

bounces right up into the tree, shaking the branches and sending the squirrel down down down the trunk. ]

Go go go go! Fuzzy-wuzzy squirrel's on the run!

[ifnotloyal]

[ Okay, there's another surprise. This one even stops Ace in his tracks (and general noise-making) when she bounces into the tree and scares the squirrel back down. ]

Oh! [ And here is the crossroads. He wants to immediately dash off after the squirrel again, but, also, he isn't such a bad dog as far as dogs who chase squirrels go. Once they've made it to a tree, well, that's like getting to home base! ] Well...

[ He spins away from the tree, taking a few running steps in the direction the squirrel went before slowing to a stop again, just watching it run off instead. ]

It's not really fair if they can't hide in their trees, is it?

[huitzilin]

They can go faster than us, anyway!

[ she says as her feet daintily touch the ground at float. despite that, she doesn't pursue. instead she puts her hands behind her back and leans forward to examine him. ]

You're a dog but you can talk! Real-talk, not just thinky-talk.

[ifnotloyal]

Well! Yes. That is true.

[ But! But it still seems rude to knock animals out of trees, even if she has a very good point. Ace won't dwell on it for long, though, not when the mysterious floating girl has moved on to pointing out the obvious. ]

Oh, that. Yeah, I'm a talking dog. Hello.

[ His reaction to this question has become more and more blasé over the months, as he's gotten used to it. ]

[huitzilin]

A talking dog!

[ she throws up her arms in excitement, hopping an enthusiastic circle around him. she leans down to his height, bright to look him in the face. ]

What's your name, talking doggy? I'm Aracely.

[ifnotloyal]

[ And Ace turns in a circle trying to follow where she goes, only to stop again when she does. Hoo boy. This one has energy! ]

I'm Ace! It's nice to meet you. [ He's also a polite talking dog! ] What brings you out squirrel-chasing? I didn't think anyone other than dogs did that.

[huitzilin]

Ace!

[ she repeats it like it's the best dog name ever. ]

Nice to meet you Ace.

[ after giving him the bit of a psychic feel-out (without really recognizing the extent of what she's doing) she draws back, distracted, looking thoughtful. ]

You felt like you were having a lot of fun so I wanted to try it too. No squirrels got hurt in the process.

[ifnotloyal]

I felt like I was?

[ It is the best dog name ever, it is, it is.

Psychically, he's similar to a human, but not the same. Chief concerns of his currently are 'who is this person' and 'squirrels'. The predominant difference might be how much more sense reliant everything is and, well, those senses aren't set up to read so easily to anyone used to humans. ]

I was, but... [ Ace plops down to sit. ] What do you meant I felt like I was?

[huitzilin]

[ it's really nice and simple, and she doesn't seem to really want to dive any further. she's pleasantly enthused, and when she hops up again she crosses her legs in the air and floats there, satisfied. ]

I mean you felt like it. You were having all kinds of squirrel feelings. That's how I found you.

[ she doesn't seem to find anything about her telepathic intrusion strange. ]

[ifnotloyal]

Wow. Really?

[ And being a dog, he has little experience with telepathy and has no idea it's an intrusion at all. ]

Is that why you decided to chase after it, too? Because you felt what I was feeling?

[huitzilin]

Yep, really!

[ she half turns in the air absently as they talk, like it's something to do while they exchange words. ]

Mm, yep again! You were having fun, and I wanted to have fun too. You didn't feel like you were going to hurt the squirrel. I didn't either, but it was fun.

If you're a talking dog, are you an imPort too?

[ifnotloyal]

We could keep on chasing squirrels if you really want.

[ So long as she knows the rules! He sure won't mind. ]

But yeah, I am! My tattoo is under my fur, so it isn't very obvious, but I am.

[huitzilin]

[ she stretches her hands to her knees and looks around for the skitter and chatter of the squirrels. ]

What kind of power do you have? What kind of doggy power do doggies have?

[ifnotloyal]

[ What kind of doggy powers does he have? Asking that, even after she's already pointed it out just a minute before? He gives her a big ol' doggy grin, tongue lolling out and all for a few seconds before he has to speak again. ]

I can talk to people. That's my power.

[ It's not the whole truth. There is more, but he's reluctant to share the rest. ]